Driving in fog is hazardous, both for inexperienced and experienced drivers alike. In fact, foggy conditions are so dangerous that theyâre often cited as a cause of multiple vehicle pile-ups.
If fog is forecast, the best advice is to put off your journey. But, if youâre unexpectedly faced with driving in foggy conditions, here are 10 tips to help you stay safe:
- Pull over in a safe place if conditions are so bad that youâre struggling to see. Avoid stopping anywhere that could put you in danger from other vehicles.
- Use wipers, demisters and the heater to keep the windshield clear.
- Increase the distance between your vehicle and the one in front. Resist âhanging onâ the tail lights of the vehicle in front. This gives you a false sense of security AND means you may be driving too close.
- Drive at a speed to suit the conditions. Depending on your visibility this could mean slowing down way below the maximum speed limit.
- Use dipped headlights and donât rely on lights coming on automatically â they might not âtriggerâ in the fog.
- Turn on fog lights if visibility is seriously reduced, but remember to switch them off when visibility improves as they can dazzle other road users.
- Stay alert, avoiding any distractions â driving in fog requires your full attention.
- Watch out for other road users who may not be very visible in the fog. This includes pedestrians, cyclists and motorcyclists â and even other car drivers who might have forgotten to switch on their headlights.
- Check mirrors regularly to monitor what is happening all around your vehicle.
- Avoid speeding up suddenly if the fog appears to be clearing. You might simply be going through a âclear patchâ before it becomes dense again.
Remember: The safest option is to avoid driving completely if weather conditions are hazardous. However, these tips are provided to help you stay safe when faced with unexpected and unpredicted foggy weather conditions.
Visit eDrivingâs Guides page for more tips on driving in bad weather and in many other driving situations.